1. The Pill

The large room was quiet, the only sound an occasional rustle of encyclopedia pages turning. Sighing, Ardan shut the book and stood up, stretching his sore shoulders and back. He had tried to read it, but whoever designed it must have been a boring person.

Ardan lived in an orphanage-type facility which housed elves from the age of one to fifteen.

He was temporarily banned from the computer by his caretaker, who believed Ardan ‘used it too much’. Now all he had for entertainment was a large bookcase, filled to the brim with school books and a lonely, slightly deflated soccer ball.

Ardan’s life in the orphanage had been uneventful. It had supplied him with education, food, shelter, friends, and freedom. The only thing he hadn’t received and desperately wanted was to learn magic. To his disdain, magic wasn’t supported in the orphanage curriculum as the caretakers didn’t want little children throwing fireballs in the dining hall or etching magic runes into their desks with scissors.

Not that it mattered anymore, because he was done living in the stifling corridors of the orphanage.

It was his fifteenth birthday today - a special occasion. Turning fifteen was a big deal for those in the residents of the facility. On his fifteenth birthday, he would be given a ‘gift’, then sent out into the world, all alone.

Sliding the book back into the shelf stuffed with dozens of other musty volumes, he wondered what the outside world would be like. He’d always wanted to live his own life and become a magic performer. Ardan wasn’t allowed contact with people outside the orphanage, and had only been outside on planned excursions.

Ardan gazed around his room, taking it all in, wondering what he would miss. His cozy bed lay against the back wall, next to a desk and small cupboard, messily packed with crumpled articles of clothing. The caretakers washed them for him, but Ardan was too lazy to fold and put them away - he was much too lazy. The walls were painted a pale grey, which reflected light around the large room. A dining table and kitchenette sat affixed to the far wall, both unused for a long time. Meals were provided, and it would be a waste to not eat them.

A ringing sound emerged from the corridor outside his room, alerting him that it was lunch time. Making his way to the door, he stopped to check his appearance.

Standing in front of the mirror, Ardan looked himself up and down. He had grown quite tall, taller than most people his age. Some would even call his height abnormal. Elves weren’t generally regarded as small creatures, but compared to humans, they were certainly on the shorter side. Ardan’s skin was light brown, but his green eyes gleamed as bright as ever. His ebony black hair, cut far more often than it should have been, drew the attention of those who had not seen the rarer black-haired elf. At least his ears were normal, sharp-edged at the back.

Ardan had been told his parents had died in a raid by the humans.

The world was split into five nations and races, each bearing unique magical gifts. There was the Elf Nation, the Dwarf Nation, the Goblin Nation, the Troll Nation and the Human Nation.

The Human War had been the single most catastrophic war in the entirety of Domhain history, caused by an uprising of humans whose territory was captured eons ago. This was due to humanity’s low magic capabilities, especially so when compared to the others. Through unknown means, humanity became more magically apt, such that they became powerful, influential, a race to be considered a threat. Humanity rebelled against the other nations, desiring their territory to be free of outsiders. Seeing this happen, the other four races banded together under a common goal - eliminating the human nation. In time, humanity prevailed, proving themselves as new leaders to the others. They conceded and were forced into a truce with the humans.

However, the humans weren’t ready to forgive and forget as easily as that. Throughout the years, they continued to pillage and raid random societies whenever they wanted, as a show of their power over the world.

An ‘enlightened’ human - what elves called humans who possessed improved magic - had killed Ardan’s mother, and his father had left at birth. Thus, he had ended up in the orphanage, with no knowledge of his lineage.

Shrugging on a hoodie, he slipped on his shoes and left the room. The corridor was filled with a few other elves - all close to his age - that seemed as moody as he was. Forming a pack, they trudged toward the eating room where lunch awaited.

The facility was huge, and Ardan doubted that he’d seen everything it offered, despite spending his entire life living there. The people who worked there were kind too, offering satisfactory food and prompt service to his needs. He even had a personal caretaker - rumours said those were a rarity in the outside world.

Though different wards were separated by age, most common rooms were not. This meant that every day, for at least three times, he would be surrounded by about fifty other children. It didn’t sound so bad, but a crowd of loud children stuffed into an echoey room created too much noise for his ears to bear.

Brightening himself with the thought that it would be for the last time, Ardan dug into the meal in front of him. His last meal in the orphanage would be macaroni and cheese? The meal was nothing special - Ardan had that same dish just last week. But he didn’t complain. Who would he even complain to?

Ardan had never been the… friendly type.

Struggling to converse with others his age was right up his alley. His unnatural height made him seem intimidating, so people usually stayed away from him.

Devouring the rest of the macaroni, he stood up and dumped his empty bowl and cutlery into a small washing bucket by the sink.

Ardan walked out of the cafeteria and trudged up the stairs toward his ward. The teenagers ward was right next to the library, which made for a quiet recluse. Today, just like usual, he wanted to spend a couple of hours snuggled into a beanbag in the back of the library, reading a bit before dozing off.

The librarian, Summer, waved cheerily at Ardan’s arrival. She was a slim, young adult elf, and some children believed she had been a model before becoming a librarian. She wore her long blue hair in braids behind her shoulders, which only made up a small part of her beauty. Freckles covered her face, a distinguishing feature along with a strong jawline. Her clothes were always stunning, but a little too revealing for Ardan’s taste.

“Happy birthday Ardan!” Summer called from the front counter. She was always happy to see him.

“Thanks, Summer.” Ardan replied reluctantly.

He wondered how everyone seemed to know it was his birthday. Was it some common thing with all the staff? Furthering the conversation, she walked out behind her desk, hiding something behind her back.

“Since it’s your birthday, I thought I’d let you have a little treat!”

As she crossed over to him, she revealed what she’d been hiding - a thin booklet titled Elemental Magic: History, Information and Guide. He couldn’t hide his surprise.

“Elemental magic?” Ardan exclaimed, surprised.

Summer shoved the book into his hands, beaming at him.

“Well, think of it as a ‘thank you’ gift for keeping me company this whole time. Elemental magic is our, the elves, specialty.”

He flipped the book open. Inside, informative texts and diagrams filled the pages, inciting both confusion and excitement within Ardan.

“Is it for me? Like? Can I have it?” Ardan babbled on like a child who had never been gifted before.

“Yes. Today’s probably going to be your last day, after all…”

Summer’s sentence trailed off, and the smile slid from her face. She motioned to something behind Ardan, and he turned.

“Ardan, Dr Halper has something for you. I’m to escort you to his lab now.” Ann, Ardan’s caretaker declared from the doorway.

“Yeah, just… give me a second?”

Ardan turned back to Summer.

“Thanks.”

His voice was barely a whisper, laced with untapped emotion.

“For the book?” Summer questioned.

“Yeah. And for everything.”

The silence became heavy.

“This is goodbye, I guess.” She said before giving him a sad smile.

“Yeah.” Ardan murmured, not trusting his voice to stay steady.

Summer glanced back at Ann, then to Ardan. She drew him into a warm embrace, then let go and walked away. Not looking back, Ardan followed his caretaker out of the room.

The walk to Dr Halper’s office was silent, and all Ardan could do was watch his world pass by for the last time. The courtyard where he would play. The cafeteria where he ate alone. The common room, where people chattered happily to each other, living the same lives as him but experiencing them differently. Back when he was little, the orphanage had more people, close to two hundred or so, much livelier than now. Ardan had made one or two friends, but they were quickly adopted, leaving him alone. He didn’t know why he was never adopted. Was it his looks? His abnormal height? His personality? Maybe even just plain bad luck?

Regardless, him not being adopted had led him here. To this moment.

“We’re here.”

Ann stopped in front of a steel door at the end of a long hallway, with a sign displaying ‘Dr Halper’s Office’ in bold letters. Smiling at him reassuringly, she pushed the door open, revealing a medium sized room heavily decorated in blue ornaments.

“Ah, welcome!” A figure dressed in all black boomed.

Dr Halper turned around in a swivel chair, vaguely resembling an anime supervillain. Gloved hands were placed together in his lap, and a cane rested against the desk. He looked at Ann, nodded once, and she left after patting Ardan’s shoulder.

“Take a seat, Ardan.”

The elf gestured to a chair next to the door with his bony arm. He was short. Very short. So short that his chin barely came above the table. He had pale white skin, common for an elf, and dull emerald eyes, equally as common. Dr Halper wore a lab coat - presumably part of his outfit as a doctor - and black suit pants that reached his brown leather shoes.

“Ann must have told you I’m here to give you the gift. Correct?” The doctor proposed, eyeing Ardan strangely.

Ardan nodded, so nervous that he worried he would stutter.

“This orphanage’s lore is that on your fifteenth birthday, if you’ve not been adopted, you’ll receive a gift before being deposited into the outside world.”

He nodded again, showing the doctor that he was aware of this.

“Great! Then we’ll get straight to it.” Dr Halper proclaimed.

He reached into one of the drawers in his desk, taking out a single brown pill, about the size of a shirt button. Ardan furrowed his brow. That was it? He was expecting something more grand, like the latest mobile phone or a large pile of cash.

“Don’t worry, the pill isn’t the actual gift. This is just a… precaution we need to take before you receive the gift,” the doctor insisted.

The confusion on Ardan’s face was blatant, and he wondered what the doctor meant. What kind of gift needed a precaution? Was it dangerous?

Taking the pill, Ardan rolled it around his palm. Though small, it was unnaturally heavy, slightly warm, and even smelt somewhat metallic.

This could be the biggest moment of his life.

Ardan looked back at the doctor, who gave a curt nod in response. Whatever, he thought. Here goes nothing. Ardan swallowed the brown pill and looked toward the other elf.

“Was something supposed to happen?”

However, the doctor seemed to be preoccupied, clambering over the desk to examine his eye with a magnifying glass.

“Do you feel any headaches?”

Ardan was confused.

“What? No?”

Unsatisfied, the doctor touched Ardan’s face, peeling open his eyelid.

“Do you feel your vision blurring?”

“No-”

Ardan stopped himself before he could finish. His vision had indeed started to become a little blurry. More than a little blurry. In fact, the world had started spinning. He could also feel a headache incoming.

“Uh, yes? What’s happening to me? What did you do?”

Sighing, the doctor stood up and called to someone at the door.

“He’s a dud, just like the others. Put him in containment.”

What? Dud? Containment? What was the doctor even saying?

Ardan’s eyes could only perceive the world as a flurry of colours and swirls, unable to focus on anything or see properly.

“Uhm, Doctor Halper? What’s going on?”

Dr Halper only sighed, a cold look washing over his face.

“You wanted the gift, you got the gift. However, it doesn’t seem like the gift wants you. Now shut up.”

Gift? Hadn’t this just been a precaution or something?

Ardan got no more time to wonder, as a pair of firm hands swept him off his chair. Funnily enough, he didn’t feel the pain from falling onto the floor. Instead, a calm feeling swept over him.

What is your name?

Thinking the new screen was some sort of test, Ardan mumbled a short phrase.

“Ardan Boone.”

But as the words changed, he was not so sure.

Loading Player Profile . . .

A small grey box appeared on top of the blurriness. This he could see properly, yet that didn’t help him in understanding it. Player profile? What was that? Could anyone else see it? Before he could ask, the screen changed once more.

Welcome to League Of Progression! (L.O.P)

Would you like to begin the tutorial?

Yes/No

(Please select a preference by speech. You can change this later in your settings)

League of Progression? What was that? Suddenly, the doctor spoke once more.

“He’s still awake! Put him to sleep first, you fools.”

Something sharp jabbed into Ardan’s arm that sparked a cry from within him. It must have been some sort of anaesthetic, because in moments, he passed out, still being dragged away.

The contract had been sealed. His new life had started.

But soon, he’d find out.

What seemed to be a harmless little pill would change everything. Not just him. Not just the elves. But the entirety of Domhain.

As Ardan’s limp body was carried from the room, Dr Halper frowned. He closed the drawer the ‘gift’ was from, sighing in disappointment. It was time to give up on this. Time and time again, he had experimented on the unwanted children in the orphanage, yet to no success.

Dr Halper opened his desk drawer, taking out a diagram. It was old and worn, yellowing at the edges. The scientist was too deep in his own disappointment to notice a label had fallen out of the drawer. It rested on the floor, a single word on the side facing up that read: Filum.